From the parking lot at the Gunzenreit Farm (950 meters) follow the Örgenbach for 5 minutes until you come across signs directing you to the Passauer Hütte. Follow the signs and ascend a wooded ridge for a good hour. At about 1500 meters you emerge above the treeline. Continue to follow the well trodded and maintained trail which is now secured by handrails here and there for another hour until you reach the Hochtor (1900 meters), where the ridge you have been following connects to the Fahnenköpfle (2142 meters). The hut is now in view and is reached in 20 minutes from the Hochtor.

The Passauer Hütte might also be reached by way of another marked trail staring at the village of Diesbach in the Saalach Valley. It takes about 4,5 hours to reach the hut from there.

Route Description

Though this is the normal and easiest route up Birnhorn the Hofersteig is more popular for ascending the mountain. Most people however use the route over the Kuchelnieder for the descend. This route involves an ascend of about 1700 meters from the trailhead (4,5-5 hours) or 600 meters (1,5-2 hours) from the Passauer Hütte.

From the hut follow the signs and walk along a good trail with red markings over the karst field of the Hochgrub. After 20 minutes the trail swings from the northeast to the east and traverses the scree slopes and some snow fields under the East Face of Birnhorn. After another 20 minutes the route enters a 80 meters high escarpment that is secured with fixed nylon ropes that leads to the Kuchelnieder (2437 meters), a pass between Birnhorn and Kuchelhorn (2500 meters).
These ropes are partly rotten and one is nearly severed. Exert great caution in using the ropes and if in doubt try to ascend/descend on your own!.
The route now follows a broad ledge for one hour that is partly comprised of smooth slabs covered with fine scree that gets dangerously slippery when wet. 50 meters under the summit ascend the West Ridge and follow it to the summit cross.

Essential Gear

No special equipment needed!